Combined mixing syringe and container



Nov. 11, 1969 L. E. wALEcKA COMBINED MIXING SYRINGE AND CONTAINER Filed Feb- 5, 1967 ELIE IIIIIIIIIIIII LEONARD E.WALECKA United States Patent M US. Cl. 128-218 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combined syringe and plural-compartment container for storing solid and liquid ingredients separately for subsequent mixing and injection. The syringe barrel includes an enlarged portion around its periphery at about the center of its longitudinal dimension, and together with the syringe pistons forms a plural-compartment container. When two pistons are used, one of the pistons is positioned immediately adjacent to the enlarged portion of the syringe barrel and the other seals off the open end of the barrel, thus forming two compartments, each of which may contain a different ingredient. By depressing the syringe plunger slightly so that the one piston extends into the enlarged portion of the barrel, a flow path is provided whereby the two ingredients can mix. Lock means are also provided in order to prevent accidental displacement of the plunger during transport and storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many pharmaceutical preparations are unstable when dissolved or suspended in their carriers or vehicles and consequently must be kept separated until immediately prior to use, whereupon they must be mixed, placed in a syringe, and then injected. Each step which exposes the ingredients or the hypodermic needle presents a risk of contamination.

SUMMARY DRAWINGS The apparatus will be better understood upon consideration of the following description with reference to the following drawings, in which:

,. FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view in cross-section of a two-compartment syringe and container showing the two ingredients as separated.

FIGURE 2 is a partial side elevational view in crosssection showing the syringe plunger in position to permit mixing of the ingredients.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view, partially broken away in cross-section showing a hypodermic needle attached to the syringe and the plunger depressed for injection.

FIGURE 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 1 and showing a locking and tamperproof seal.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing another embodiment.

3,477,431 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 FIGURE 7 is a partial cross-sectional. view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6 and showing another embodiment of the locking feature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown a two-compartment syringe and container 10 having an enlarged center portion 11 extending around the periphery of the syringe barrel 12. As shown in the drawings, the enlarged portion 11 is of greater diameter than the syringe barrel 12 proper and may be of any desired cross-section. The package includes a plunger 13 having two spaced pistons 14,15 on the shaft 16 thereof and a threaded, tubular boss 17 on the distal or delivery end 18 of the syringe barrel 12. The boss 17 includes a passage 19 which connects the interior of the syringe barrel 12 with the outer portion of the boss 17. During transport and storage, the tubular boss 17 and passage 19 therein are sealed by a cap 20. When it is desired to inject the ingredients in the syringe, the cap 20 is removed and a needle 21 is threaded onto the boss 17. If desired, a cannula suitable for puncturing a stopper may be employed in place of the needle 21.

During transport and storage, the plunger 13 must be immobilized in order to prevent accidental displacement of the distal plunger piston 15 into the enlarged portion 11 of the syringe barrel 12 since such displacement would permit undesired mixing of the ingredients. One means for immobilizing the plunger is to employ a. lock washer seal. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, the syringe barrel 12 has an open end 22 on the proximal end thereof. In this type of structure, the tamperproof seal and locking device 23 illustrated in detail in FIG- URES 4 and 5 may be employed. In this device, a hinged lock washer 24 is fastened to the syringe barrel 12 by means of a bracket 25 and pivot pin 26. The lock Washer 24 fits into a slot 27 in the plunger shaft 16, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the plunger 13. To prevent undesired release of the lock Washer 24, an extended portion 28 may be provided, which portion engages a slotted bracket 29 fastened to the syringe barrel 12. When it is desired to mix the ingredients, the lock washer 24 is released (shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 4) to permit movement of the plunger 13 and associated pistons 14, 15.

Another embodiment of the device of this invention which employs a single piston and a different locking device is illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7. In this embodiment, the open end 22 of the syringe barrel 12 is closed by a cover 30 through which the shaft 16 of the plunger 13 extends. As illustrated, the plunger shaft 16 is of cruciform cr0ss-section and has a slot therein (not shown) immediately adjacent to the cover 30 when the plunger 13 is in the extended position as shown in FIGURE 1. Into the slot is fitted a lock washer 31 which abuts against the cover 30, thereby preventing movement of the plunger 13. When it is desired to mix the ingredients, the locking device is removed to permit movement of the plunger 13.

In this embodiment, since a cover 30 is used to seal the open end 22 of the syringe barrel 12, a single piston 32can be utilized to divide the syringe barrel 12 into two compartments. The piston 32 can be disposed on either side of the enlarged portion 11 of the syringe barrel 12. As shown in FIGURE 6, the piston 32 is disposed toward the delivery end 18 of the syringe 10 and immediately adjacent to the enlarged portion 11 of the syringe barrel 12. In this embodiment, when it is desired to mix the ingredients, the piston 32 is withdrawn into the enlarged portion 11 of the syringe barrel 12 to provide a flow path between the two chambers A, B thereby permitting the separate ingredients to mix.

To prepare the syringe container for use, the cap 20 is threaded onto the tubular boss 17 extending from the distal end 18 of the syringe barrel 12, and the syringe container 10 is placed in a vertical position with the open end 22 facing upwardly. A predetermined amount of one desired ingredient, a powder, for example, is then measured into the lower portion B of the syringe barrel 12. The plunger 13 is then inserted until the proximal piston 14 is just above the opening 22 of the syringe barrel 12. A second ingredient, which may be a liquid, is 10 then placed into the upper portion A of the syringe barrel 12, and the plunger 13 is then depressed until the distal piston 15 is adjacent to but does not extend into the enlarged portion 11 of the syringe barrel 12. A locking device such as previously described is then placed over the plunger shaft 16 to immobilize the plunger 13 and associated pistons 14, 15. Thus, as illustrated by FIG- URE 1, a two-compartment syringe container 10 is formed having a powder in the lower portion B which is defined by the syringe barrel 12, the delivery end 18 of the syringe barrel 12 and the distal piston 15 of the plunger 13, and a liquid in the upper portion A which is defined by the spaced plunger pistons 14, 15 and the syringe barrel 12. The combined syringe and container 10 may thus be transported and stored until ready for use.

When it is desired to mix and inject the ingredients, the lock washer 23 is removed and the plunger 13 is depressed until the distal piston 15 extends into the enlarged portion 11 of the syringe barrel 12, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. This provides a flow path between the two portions A, B of the syringe barrel 12, thus permitting the two ingredients to mix. After the ingredients are adequately mixed, the cap 20 is removed from the tubular boss 17 and a needle 21 is threaded onto the boss 17. The mixed ingredients are then injected in the usual fashion.

While one of the ingredients has been shown as a powder, all of the ingredients can be liquid. Further, when the device of the present invention is made of molded plastic and is loaded under sterile conditions, it provides an inexpensive and convenient package for injectable fluids.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to be limited to the exact details of the structures shown, but it is intended to include other changes and modifications which may come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined syringe and plural compartment container comprising:

an elongated syringe barrel having a delivery end and an open end and an enlarged portion of greater diameter than the syringe barrel extending around its periphery at a point intermediate its ends;

a plunger slidably disposed within said syringe barrel, said plunger having at least one piston affixed thereto, the piston slidably and sealingly engaging the syringe barrel and defining, with the syringe barrel, at least one compartment on either side of said enlarged portion of the syringe barrel;

sealing means closing the delivery end of the syringe barrel;

a cover closing the open end of the syringe barrel, said cover having an opening therein, the plunger extending through said opening in the cover and having a slot in the shaft thereof immediately adjacent to the cover when the plunger is in the extended position;

and a lock washer removably fitted within the slot in the shaft of the plunger when the plunger is in the extended position and abutting the cover on the outer surface thereof to thereby prevent movement of the plunger during transportation and storage.

2. The combined syringe and plural compartment container of claim 1 including a tubular boss extending from the delivery end thereof and engageable with a needle.

3. A combined syringe and plural compartment container comprising:

an elongated syringe barrel having a delivery end and an open end and an enlarged portion of greater diameter than the syringe barrel extending around its periphery at a point intermediate its ends;

a plunger slidably disposed within said syringe barrel, said plunger having two spaced apart pistons thereon and a slot in the shaft thereof adjacent the proximal piston, the pistons slidably and sealingly engaging the syringe barrel and defining, with the syringe barrel, at least one compartment on either side of said enlarged portion of the syringe barrel;

sealing means closing the delivery end of the syringe barrel;

and releasable locking means interengaging the open end of the syringe barrel and the plunger to prevent movement of the plunger during transportation and storage, said releasable locking means being a hinged lock washer swingably fastened to the open end of the syringe barrel and removably engageable with said slot when the plunger is in the extended position.

4. The combined syringe and plural compartment container of claim 3 including a tubular boss extending from the delivery end thereof and engageable with a needle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,231,442 6/ 1917 Smith 222-402 XR 2,147,616 2/1939 Chaput 128218.1 2,489,040 11/ 1949 Lawsche l28-218 2,704,072 3/1955 Sarnoff 128-2l8.1 3,058,467 10/1962 Faure 128-218 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner M. F. MAJESTIC, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. l28272 

